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Guerrier's good health may shape up bullpen

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If the Dodgers are looking to keep a veteran reliever from the group of non-roster invitees in camp, the competition likely comes down to Kevin Gregg, Peter Moylan and Mark Lowe.

Each appeared in one of the first three games, with Gregg checking in for a perfect inning on Monday, Moylan allowing a two-run homer on Sunday and Lowe pitching a scoreless inning on Saturday.

If they were brought into camp because of concerns over the health of Matt Guerrier, who missed four months last year with a partially torn elbow tendon, there may be no need as Guerrier was impressive in his first outing on Monday with two strikeouts in a perfect inning.

Guerrier's curveball was especially sharp, a sure sign that, like Chad Billingsley, Guerrier has recovered from his injury because of platelet-rich plasma injections to avoid surgery.

"Curveballs hurt me last year when I threw them," Guerrier said. "Today, it feels completely normal."

Guerrier said the nine appearances he made at the end of last season provided him with confidence for the offseason that he would be healthy.

"I was fairly optimistic after that," he said. "Then once I started to throw in the offseason it felt completely different."

Spots in the crowded Dodgers bullpen figure to go to Brandon League, Kenley Jansen, Ronald Belisario, J.P. Howell and Guerrier. Up to two spots remain and the 40-man roster candidates include Javy Guerra, Shawn Tolleson, Paco Rodriguez and Josh Wall. Matt Palmer is another non-roster invitee with an outside shot, and there also could be as many as three starters left over from the current group of eight that could land in the bullpen.